3. It is profitable. Its use commendeth it. Curiosities and need- less speculations we can well spare ; that is a knowledge occasioneth more pain than pleasure. To have the mind stuffed with needless notions is but a burden, not a perfection ; but this maketh us wise to salvation, and therefore doth most concern us. For what is more comfortable than salvation ? John xvii. 3, ' This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' We begin our everlasting happiness, which consists in the vision of God, when we begin to know him and his Christ. Now if we would have this knowledge, and esteem this knowledge, think often, and by serious awakening thoughts, of the necessity thou hast of Christ : Mat. xi. 28, ' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
VER. 8.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 27
laden, and I will give you rest.' His all- sufficiency to do thee good by virtue of his double office : Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, the Lord Jesus Christ.'
Use 3. Bless God that he hath given thee this knowledge, this excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, and do not murmur though he hath denied you other things.
1. Kemember how it excelleth all other gifts. All your wants and losses are nothing to that free grace which he hath showed you and bestowed upon you : ' Eyes to see your teachers,' Isa. xxx. 20. As it is sinful security to be sensible of bodily wants and senseless of spiritual, so it is sinful unthankfulness to take notice of bodily wants, and not to acknowledge ' this great benefit. The Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee if he hath given thee the knowledge of his Christ, whatever he denieth thee.
2. Eemember how a true value and esteem of Christ lesseneth all other things. As the light of the sun obscureth the stars, so all worldly things grow unsavoury and lose their relish where this true light prevaileth. The taste of carnal pleasures is marred, the love of the world decreaseth, and the pleasures of sin become bitter to the soul, which is the true sign of our having received the saving know- ledge of Christ. He is so great that he lesseneth all other things to us. The soul seeth so much worth and suitableness in him to all our necessities, and doth so love and esteem him, that it accounteth all things most vile and base in comparison of him, and is willing for his sake to want or lose the rarest contents the world can give, and suffer the greatest evils the devil or man can inflict upon us.
II. Second point. That Jesus Christ must be known as the Lord. So must we preach him, and so must you receive him : 2 Cor. iv. 5, * We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord;' Col. ii. 8, 'If you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.' Let us see —
1. What this lordship of Christ is ; it is that novum jus dominii, et novum jus imperii, that new right of propriety and government over all men which Christ now hath, as being the sovereign of the world.
Concerning it observe three things —
[1.] It is superadded to the former sovereignty and dominion which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost had as creator. This new dominion and sovereignty is not destructive of the former, but accumulative ; it did not abolish the power acquired by the creation, for that con- tinueth still, and will continue whilst man receiveth his being from God by creation, and the continuance of his being by preservation ; this therefore is superadded to the former by the new title of redeemer ; for he is lord, not as creator, but as redeemer : Rev. v. 12, ' Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.'
[2.] This office of lord is derivative, and cannot be supreme, but subordinate. Though this office be the greatest and highest that ever was, above all angels and creatures, next unto God, therefore Christ's place upon his investiture and solemn inauguration was at the right hand of the eternal throne of God, yet it is derived from God, and referred to him. Derived from God ; for he is, as mediator, made
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Lord, and this power was given to him: Mat. xxviii. 18, 'All power is given to me in heaven and earth ; ' John xvii. 2, ' Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.' God hath made God-man the supreme prince and head of the church, that he might dispense salvation upon his own terms, and his doctrine and faith be embraced by all nations in the World. Here is a new power, new government, and new laws, which shall be the rule of man's duty and God's judgment. It is referred and subordinated to God : Phil. ii. 11, 'And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father/ The supreme right of governing is still in God, and subjection to him is not vacated, but established and reserved.